Dry dock update

Dry docking update – we had a great turnout of volunteers on Saturday, July 11, to learn more about an important project to assess the condition of Gazela’s framing, and to make repairs to our barge Poplar.

Gazela and Poplar will be going into the dry dock at Rhoads Industries at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on or about the 21st of July, and will remain in dock for about four weeks.

The work on Gazela will include pulling a strake of planking off 5′-6′ below the waterline, which will involve stripping the copper off in that area, taking out planks and their fasteners, inspecting the frames and all visible sections of the vessel, putting new planks in where ones were taken out, caulking, and re-coppering. In addition to this, we will be checking thru-hull fittings, replacing plastic piping on thru-hulls, inspecting the cutlass bearing, and mounting a new depth sounder forward.

This critical project will also help inform our plan for a more comprehensive hull project in the future.

Current PSPG members will be able to help, though we will have a limit of how many can be in the dock at one time and all volunteers will need to sign a waiver, watch a safety briefing, and provide some of their own safety gear, such as steel-toed boots. Please e-mail volunteer@gazela.org with your interest, expertise, and availability. The volunteers will be working alongside a paid crew of about twelve shipwrights and laborers. If you aren’t able to volunteer your time, donations are also welcome.

This is a huge step forward for the PSPG in fulfilling our mission to preserve our historic vessels and it can’t happen without your support!